Father Gandoulou, a graduate of Bonn University, had been named as a possible future bishop in Congo, it added.

In Berlin, Gandoulou's pastoral work included counselling refugees.

Suspect in psychiatric detention

A suspect, a 26-year-old man from Cameroon, was found on Friday in the attic of an apartment house in another Berlin district, Reinickendorf, and was taken to a psychiatric institution, according to police.

Gandoulou's body was found inside this Berlin building

The Berliner Zeitung (BZ) quoted community member Joachim Moche: "Our priest was always there for us. He brought with him the power to believe and conveyed it to the community. He baptized my son. I am so sad."

The Francophone pastorate is part of Berlin's Catholic bishopric and caters for 10,000 French nationals and many thousands of Francophone residents from around the world, according to the Catholic news agency KNA.

'Very sad moment'

At Sunday's church service, the Berlin bishopric's Vicar General Father Manfred Kolling described Gandoulou's sudden death as a "very sad moment" and extended condolences from all Berlin Catholics.